RESEARCH MISCONDUCT

Current Pharmaceutical Research (CPR) is committed to maintaining the integrity, reliability, and transparency of the scholarly record. The journal does not tolerate research or publication misconduct, including plagiarism, fabrication, falsification, inappropriate data or image manipulation, duplicate or redundant publication, citation manipulation, peer-review manipulation, or other practices that compromise research integrity. Suspected cases of misconduct are assessed fairly and objectively in accordance with the journal’s established procedures and relevant COPE guidance.

Anti-Plagiarism Policy

All submitted manuscripts are subject to plagiarism and similarity screening using appropriate similarity-detection software, such as Turnitin or equivalent tools. Similarity reports are evaluated by the editorial team in context, as a similarity score alone does not establish plagiarism. Plagiarism may include the unattributed use or substantial reproduction of another person’s text, ideas, data, images, or other intellectual work. Inappropriate text recycling, duplicate or redundant publication, and inadequate attribution may also constitute publication-ethics concerns. Where substantial or inappropriate similarity is identified, CPR may request clarification or revision, reject the manuscript, or initiate further investigation. Confirmed cases of serious plagiarism or related publication misconduct may result in rejection, correction, retraction, or other appropriate editorial action depending on the nature and severity of the case.

Data Fabrication and Falsification Policy

Fabrication, falsification, inappropriate manipulation, or misrepresentation of research data, experimental results, images, or other research materials constitutes serious research misconduct. Fabrication includes the invention of data or results that were not obtained through the reported research, while falsification includes manipulating research materials, processes, data, images, or results in a manner that misrepresents the research findings. Selective omission or alteration of data with the intention or effect of presenting misleading conclusions is also unacceptable.

Inappropriate image manipulation, including the selective enhancement, obscuring, movement, removal, duplication, or introduction of features that could misrepresent the original data, is not permitted. Where fabrication, falsification, or inappropriate manipulation is suspected, CPR may request original data, images, laboratory records, methodological information, or other supporting documentation and may initiate an appropriate investigation. If misconduct is confirmed, the journal may reject the manuscript or, for published articles, issue a correction, expression of concern, retraction, or other appropriate notice.

Citation Manipulation Policy

Authors must cite relevant and verifiable sources accurately and objectively. Excessive, irrelevant, inappropriate, or unnecessary citations intended primarily to increase the citation counts or visibility of particular authors, journals, institutions, or publications are not acceptable. Authors should avoid inappropriate self-citation, citation stacking, citation cartels, or other practices intended to manipulate citation metrics. Editors and reviewers must not request the addition of citations primarily for the purpose of increasing their own citation counts, those of their associates, or those of the journal. Recommendations for additional references must be based on genuine scientific or scholarly relevance. Where citation manipulation is identified, CPR may request revision, reject the manuscript, or take other appropriate editorial action in accordance with its publication-ethics procedures.

Image Integrity and Manipulation Policy

Authors must ensure that images, figures, and other visual research data accurately represent the original observations and have not been inappropriately altered or manipulated. Adjustments to brightness, contrast, or color balance may be acceptable when applied appropriately and when they do not obscure, eliminate, misrepresent, or introduce information. Selective enhancement, removal, movement, duplication, concealment, or alteration of specific features within an image in a manner that could misrepresent the research findings is not permitted. CPR may request original, unprocessed images or underlying data where image integrity concerns arise. Suspected image manipulation will be assessed in accordance with the journal’s publication-ethics procedures, and confirmed misconduct may result in rejection, correction, expression of concern, retraction, or other appropriate action.

Peer-Review Manipulation Policy

Any attempt to manipulate, compromise, or interfere with the integrity of the peer-review process is considered serious publication misconduct. Prohibited practices include providing false reviewer identities or contact information, impersonating reviewers, creating fictitious reviewer accounts, submitting reviews on behalf of another individual without authorization, attempting to influence reviewer selection improperly, or otherwise interfering with independent editorial assessment. Editors, authors, and reviewers must not participate in arrangements intended to circumvent or manipulate the legitimate peer-review process. Where peer-review manipulation is suspected, CPR may verify reviewer identities and affiliations, request additional information, suspend editorial consideration, or conduct an appropriate investigation. Confirmed cases may result in rejection, retraction, or other appropriate action in accordance with the journal’s publication-ethics procedures.

Allegation Investigation Process

When an allegation of research or publication misconduct is raised before or after publication, CPR will conduct an initial assessment to determine whether the concern warrants further investigation. Allegations will be handled as confidentially as reasonably possible and assessed fairly, objectively, and without premature conclusions. Where appropriate, the authors and other relevant parties will be informed of the concerns and given a reasonable opportunity to provide explanations, original research data, supporting documentation, or other relevant evidence. CPR may seek additional information or clarification from the authors’ institution, Ethics Committee, funding body, research organization, or other appropriate authority where necessary.

The journal will consider the available evidence and follow relevant COPE guidance and established publication-ethics procedures. Following assessment or investigation, CPR may take appropriate action, including rejection of a submitted manuscript, publication of a correction or expression of concern, retraction of a published article, or other measures appropriate to the nature and severity of the concern.

Retraction, Correction, and Expression of Concern Policy

CPR is committed to preserving the accuracy and integrity of the scholarly record. Where a published article contains a significant but correctable error that does not invalidate its overall findings or conclusions, the journal may publish a formal Correction, which will be clearly identified and permanently linked to the original article. An article may be retracted where there is clear evidence that its findings are unreliable as a result of major error, fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, inappropriate manipulation, duplicate publication, or other serious research or publication misconduct. A retraction notice will clearly identify the affected article, state the reason for the retraction, and remain permanently linked to the original article and its DOI. The original scholarly record will be maintained in accordance with applicable journal and publishing standards.

Where substantial concerns exist regarding the reliability, integrity, or ethical status of a published article but the available evidence is inconclusive or an investigation remains ongoing, CPR may publish an Expression of Concern until the matter is sufficiently resolved. Corrections and retractions are intended primarily to maintain the accuracy and integrity of the scholarly record rather than to serve as punitive measures.